Political campaigns are increasingly partnering with online influencers to reach voters, but the strategy yields mixed results. While some candidates see engagement spikes, others fail to translate online popularity into election wins, raising questions about cost-benefit and influencer baggage.
Political campaigns are increasingly partnering with online influencers to reach voters, but the strategy yields mixed results. While some candidates see success in engagement and fundraising, others fail to translate online popularity into electoral victories, raising questions about the true political power of internet stars.
The World Justice Report proposes an eco-socialist vision for a prosperous, equitable world within planetary boundaries, suggesting reduced work hours and increased earnings by century's end. It critiques the far-right's techno-extractivist approach and the traditional left's focus on endless growth, advocating for "sufficiency" and "planetary habitability."
Actor Vijay's political campaign mirrored a film release, utilizing digital marketing strategies like trailers and guest appearances to engage voters. His network of fan clubs acted as "virtual warriors," leveraging holograms, AI, and hyper-local messaging to attract first-time voters and their families, proving highly effective.
The director of the State Hermitage Museum says the detention of Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin in Poland, where he could face extradition to Ukraine, is part of a broader political campaign that has included sanctions against prominent Russian scholars and heads of leading archaeological institutions. Mikhail Piotrovsky stated that archaeologists and museum staff are becoming targets of what he called a system of kidnappings, hostage-taking, manipulation, blackmail, and lies that has replaced standard legal procedures.
Four individuals have denied criminal damage after apple crumble and custard was thrown at the Crown Jewels display case at the Tower of London in December last year. The incident caused over £600 damage to the casing and museum floor. The defendants claim lawful excuse, arguing it was a peaceful protest with minor damage, and dispute the cleanup time and loss of earnings. They are due to appear at City of London Magistrates' Court. The campaign group Take Back Power, an offshoot of Just Stop Oil, claimed responsibility.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spent time on the banks of the Hooghly river in Kolkata on Friday, taking a wooden boat ride with Vidyasagar Setu in the background. During his visit, Modi met boatmen and morning walkers, describing the Ganga as flowing through the soul of Bengal. The visit comes amid ongoing assembly elections in West Bengal, where the BJP is aiming to unseat the ruling Trinamool Congress. Polling for Phase I concluded with a 91.91% voter turnout, and vote counting is scheduled for May 4.
